Paula Hockey on how to juggle office work, offspring and cravings for the cookie jar when working from home

On a good day, working from home is a dream: no commuting, no expensive lunches, no petty office politics and you can put in a day’s work in a couple of hours.

On a bad day, you just feel like giving up. It can sometimes take an eternity to get into the right frame of mind, let alone deal with the more pressing tasks of feeds, washing, nappies and spending time with your baby.

Previously, I had been perfectly happy to work industriously on my own for hours, but working alone with this little being who couldn’t talk back to me actually felt quite isolating. I sought out other mothers for company and support, but with them came lots of excuses for doing less work.

Working from home could be a smoother process if you follow some of these suggestions:

1. Insist on regular, uninterrupted time – if necessary, you can pay someone to look after the kids.

2. Try to use space that you can lock up when you finish for the day. If this isn’t possible, then clear away clutter when you finish and make sure there’s no chance that little hands can invade your disc drive.

3. A spare telephone line means that your toddler will never answer an important business call with an embarrassing greeting like ‘I want a wee’.

4. Get up half an hour earlier and do domestic chores before you start work.

5. Set time aside to file and catch up on paperwork. Without colleagues nagging you it’s easy to let things slide.

6. Cultivate a selfish streak and learn to say no. Just because your house is the one nearest to school, it doesn’t mean that you always have to entertain your children’s friends.

7. Make sure you don’t become isolated. If you work for an organisation, go into the office regularly. Meet colleagues and work associates for lunch or join a networking group.

8. Keep up on a professional level. Invest in courses and subscribe to the publications you may not see now that you’re no longer in the office.

9. While your children are young, you still have the childcare dilemma. Try nanny shares or a part-time place at a day nursery. I juggle a casual childminder and reciprocal babysitting with friends, which is inexpensive and flexible.

10. If you choose to employ someone to care for the children in your own home, make sure they are competent enough to deal with things like minor injuries, tantrums and fights between siblings.

11. With cupboards full of tempting goodies, it’s easy to snack and then wonder why you feel sluggish and overweight. Nibble on bananas and drink lots of water to combat visits to the biscuit tin.

12. Since you are contributing to the family coffers, you deserve their support. Draw up a housework rota and ensure everyone sticks to it.

13. Dress for work. If you wear a baggy jumper and jeans everyday, you’ll end up feeling lazy and inefficient. Mark the difference between your work and your relaxed state by your clothes – you don’t have to wear a suit, but just save those leggings for your day off.

14. Never turn on the television. Daytime TV is addictive and getting hooked is easy. For a little light relief, throw on a coat and go for a walk.

15. The best way to stay on top is to stay ahead. Try to complete work way in advance of deadlines. Leave it until the last minute and you can guarantee that somebody is going to be ill and need your undivided attention.

16. Relax and enjoy yourself.

Find out more about your childcare choices.